Crimes against Sports

A few issues ago, February 15, 2008, to be exact, this column called for a thrust towards using sports as a combative method for checking the criminal activity in which some of the nation’s youth become involved.

Still an avenue to stem this undesirable flow, this method should be pursued at all cost, as it can cost us all.{{more}}

But many have turned a blind eye and have instead accelerated the process in the opposite direction; they have gone the way of committing crimes against sports.

The numbers on the condemned bench have grown over the past months, as many of the perpetrators have been steadily called to justice.

The handcuffs have already been placed on the persons responsible not sending this country’s team to the 12th Caribbean Union of Teachers Games in Tortola last weekend.

They have been put on remand, awaiting trial, for their cruelty to the young athletes who were eagerly looking forward to their moments of glory on the track in the British Virgin Islands, after making sacrifices and preparing for several months.

The culprits, schooled in procrastination, waited until the eleventh hour, to secure funding, despite having knowledge of the event almost two years ago.

It is reported that following the Carnival celebrations, efforts were made to milk the national cash cow, but the cow was not on the pasture.

Also awaiting sentencing, are those who drag along the formal handing over of the three refurbished sporting facilities. The case has been tried and they have been found guilty. For this unpardonable crime, they are expected to get the maximum penalty.

Bunking with them, are the Ministers of Sports and other policy makers who have done little or nothing to ensure that the chained fields are released to the general public and our young sportsmen and women.

These men and women have no real development strategy nor binding policy towards Sports. Instead they use sugar coated unrealism, blarney and flummery as their modus operandi.

It is a form of sporting treason to have the facilities’ use restricted, then turn around and expect top performance from national athletes of every sport.

Those directly overseeing the facilities, alibi of: there is unfinished business; delaying the handing over, was not accepted by the jury, and the Presiding Judge requested them to return a verdict of guilty. Pleas of mitigation by their legal representatives were to no avail. This case had the largest following.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUING

Meanwhile, investigations are continuing into allegations that the current national Netball team was coached from a distance.

In a high tech operation, charges are that the squad’s training programme was sent from an unknown source, which caused other members of the appointed staff to walk away in disapproval.

Also, investigators are following a lead that after selection of the Under-23 team had already been completed, some other prospective members turned up for practice.

Evidence in this matter has not been conclusive, but highly circumstantial. The information, though, is fuzzy, but as it clears, the alleged offence should be indictable.

Also on trial were the members of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), who were unable to escape custody. They have been found guilty of not holding elections for new officers, which are long overdue.

They, along with the various affiliates have been jointly charged as accomplices for standing idly by, and seeing the democratic process being eroded. Sentencing, though, has been deferred in this matter.

But a massive man hunt has been mounted for the number of athletics coaches who have been trained, were recipients of certificates, titles and other paraphernalia but yet cannot find the time to function. Similarly, members of the Executive of TASVG , who go into hibernation at certain athletics events but who re-emerge at special high profile ones.

When caught, they are likely to be stripped of their positions, and brought before the law court to answer the charges.

Interrogation Begins

Called in for interrogation after their yearly transgressions of taking the nation’s youths on an exercise of mere extravagance are the school games personnel.

The fugitives have finally been tracked down for annually selecting representative teams just to go on a reward trip during the August vacations, under the guise of the Windward Islands School Games. Noticeably, there is not much zeal shown by some officials, however, when the Games are held here, as there is not an opportunity to see one of the Windward Islands and catch up on some old buddies. Failure to have a proper structure, no constructive training programme, no clear objectives of the Games, no criteria for selection, but who knows who and who likes who, were the areas in which the perpetrators were found wanting.

They also had the charge of wasting much needed funds and sporting deception laid against them.

Also arraigned are the members of the Swimming Association who have taken the sport on a voyage to the bottom of the sea.

They are not expected to get a custodial sentence, although found guilty for drowning the sport. A hefty fine is the most likely punishment.

Facing their day in court were the Volleyball and Boxing Associations, who were charged for their overdue dormancy. However, they were reprimanded and discharged as there were signs of improvements in their operations. They were also put on a 24 hour curfew, to seek regional and international help to get their houses in order.

In all the cases, there were no provisions for appeal.

But while the guilty parties serve their varying periods of incarceration or come up with their fines, the Sports against Crime Initiative will run concurrently.

Already serving a life sentence, tried and convicted at the previous Sports Criminal Assizes are those who chose to put that lovely piece of squat land named the “Mound” at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

kingroache@yahoo.com